Wrench



W. CHURCH.

(No Model.)

WRENCH.

Patented May 17, 1892 E2/Tena; .t

Per'

)VIZ/sesca., Fumo-urne.. mnnmcvml o c TATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM CHURCH, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,987, dated May 17, 1892. Application tiled August 4, 1891. Serial No. 401,689. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CHURCH, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Wrenches,`

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable combined nut and pipe wrenches, its object being to provide a simple, inexpensive tool which is instantly adjustable to any size of nut or pipe, as the case may be, and which in the operation of being secured in adjusted positions is closed upon the nut and pipe so as to firmly grip the same between the jaws.

To this end my invention consists in providing a movable jaw sliding freely on the handle of the tool, which is held in adjusted positions by means of a cam-clamp bearing against the outer face of the jaw and engaging teeth upon the handle, the action of the clamp being to thrust the jaw slightly forward or toward the fixed jaw as the clamp is closed.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved wrench, the full lines representing the clamp opened or disengaged from thehandle so that the jaw can be freely moved, the dotted lines showing the position of the parts when the clamp is closed, other dotted lines showing in position a removable pipejaw. Figs. 2 and 3 are details of the removable pipe-jaw, and Fig. 4 is a partial plan View of a modified form of clamp.

In the drawings, 2 represents the handle of the tool, preferably a straight rectangular metallic bar having a fixed jaw 3 at one end and the series of notches 4 on its under side.

Sliding freely along the handle is the adjustteeth 12, which are adapted to engage the notches 4 of the handle when the clamp is closed, these teeth being the fulcrum-point of the clamp upon the handle or the pivotal point for said cam and the center of the curve of the slot 11. The point or fulcrum end 13 of the clamp bears against the rear of the jaw 5 and holds it from sliding backward when the wrench is in use. In order that the clamp when operated or closed shall thrust the jaw 5 forward slightly to close in or grip the 0bject between the jaws, the rear face of the jaw 5 is formed with a double curve-the concave curve 14 next the handle and the outer convex curve 16. Consequently when the handle 15 of the clamp is closed toward the handle of the wrench,as shown by the dottedv lines of Fig. 1', the point 13 is carried downward onto the convex surface 16 far enough to lock the clamp and to thrust the jaw forward, as shown by the dotted lines, the ears ofthe clamp sliding upon the ears of the jaw. IVhen it is desired to use the tool as a, pipewrench,the pin 6 is removed from the handle 2, the adjustable jaw and clamp slipped off, and the removable pipe-jaw 16 is slipped onto the handle, abutting against the jaw 3, when the adjustable jaw and clamp are replaced.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified construction in which the clamp 17 is provided with an opening to receive the handle 2 of the Wrench, the handle 1S of the clamp extending above the top of the handle 2. The clamp is connected to the ears 7 of the sliding jaw 5,the pivot-pins extending through the slots 19. The rear of the jaw is formed with aconvex curve 22, so that the closing of the handle 1S against the handle 2 causes its teeth 2O to engage the notches on the handle and, serving as a fulcrum,turns the point 2l of the clamp toward the handle, and bearing on the convex surface 22 of the jaw thrusts it forward, as shown in full lines, until the clamp is locked.

Operation: The handle of the clamp is thrown outward from thewrench-handle, leaving the adjustable jaw free to slide. The wrench is then applied to the nut orotherobject and the jaw 5 slipped along the handle into 'contact with it. The clamp-handle is then closed against the wrench-handle, causing the clamp-teeth to bear upon the handle and engage its notches, the point of the IOO clamp bearing upon the jaw 5 and holding it from backward movement, and at the saine time thrusting it forward slightly to firmly grip the nut. The clamp When fully closed is locked and the wrench can then be operated. The Wrench is disengaged from the nut or other object by simply throwing the clamphandle outward and sliding back the jaw 5.

I claiml. In a Wrench'having a jaw fixed to the handle and another slidable thereon,the cornbination therewith of a clamp-lever loosely connected to said sliding jaw, Vengaging with and fulcrumed upon the wrench-handle and having its fulcruln end bearing against saidslidable jaw, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth,

2. In a Wrench having a fixed jaw .and av movable jaw sliding on its handle, the combi- `3 nation of a series of notches upon said handle, a .clamp-lever loosely connected to said movable jaw, and a fulcrum-point upon said clamp., adapted to engage a notch upon said l handle, the fulcrum end ot' said claniplever being adapted when the clamp is operated to bear against said movable jaw and to thrust 1 the same forward,substantiallyas andforthe l purposes set forth. i

`3. In a Wrench having a straight handle; provided with a fixed jaw, the combinationof i an adjustable jaw sliding on said handle, a clamp-lever having its fulcrum end bearing against said adjustable jaw, a fulcrumpoint on said lever adapted to bear upon said handle, notches upon said handle to receive said fulerum, and a loose connection between said clamp and said adjustable jaw, consisting of pivots upon one entering curvedA grooves or slots in the other, the center of the curve of said grooves or slots being the fulcrum-point of said lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a wrench having a fixed and a sliding jaw, the combination, With the sliding jaw, of a cam-lever loosely connected to and bearing against it, a series of notches upon the Wrenchhandle, and a projection upon said cam-lever adapted to engage one of said notches and to serve as'the pivot for said cam, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a Wrench having laterally-extending j aWs, one fixed and the other adj u stable along thehandle, the .combination of a canilever loosely connected to said adjustable jaw and adapted to bear against it near its point, a series of notches upon the Wrench-handle,A and a projection upon the cam-lever adapted to .engage With said notches and serve as the pivot for said cam,substantially as kand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of July, 1891.

` WILLIAM CHURCH. In presence of- T. D.. MERWIN, A. MAE WELCH. 

